Speed control



May 15, 19 23.

msmm A. C. ROEBUCK SPEED CONTROL FiledZJune 14 1920 .4 Sheets-Sheet 2fzzz'ezzz orz- A. C. ROEBUCK May 15 1923.

SPEED CONTROL F'iled'ZJune 14, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jay 3.-

- L455fl3 A. C. ROEBUCK sPEEnflcoNTRoL FiledZJune 14, 1920 U 4Sheets-Sheet 4 2a WEE;

Patented May 15, 1923.

I uurrso' "stares ALVAHC. 'ROEBUCK, OF CHIGAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPEED common.

Application filed June 14,

To all whom it may; concern:

:Be it known that I, ALvAH C, RonBUoK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicage, in the county-of Cook and. State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed Controls, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to speed controls and has for one of its objectsthe provision of a simple and e'fiicient speed control mechanism.

Another obj ectis the provision of a simple and eiiicient speed controladapted for use in connection with motionpicture projectors, and thelike.

A. further object is the provision of apair of normally spring-pressedfriction gears with a cooperating wedge-shaped or tapering gear mountedbetween said friction gears with means for relative movement of thegears. i

A further object is the provision of. a drivin mechanism for motionpicture apparatus which eliminates the use of belts.

v A still further object is the provision of meansffor quickly andeasily throwing the driving and driven gears out of operative condition.I

Other objects will appear hereinafter. 1

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which I g r Fig.1 is a fragmental side elevation of a motion picture. projecting deviceequipped with speed control mechanism embodying my. invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing internal parts; i

Fig. 4is a'vi'ew partly in section and partly in elevation looking inthe opposite direction of that indicated in Fig. 3;

. Fig. 5 is-a section taken on line 5+5 of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken through a motor bracket used in theconstruction; and c Fig. 7 is a frag-mental section taken through line7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have indicated a housing10 of a motion picture device having a take-up reel casing 11 at itslower portion.

My device is applicable to various forms of motion picture apparatus nowon the 1920. Serial No. 388,926.

market and can be applied toboth new constructions and devices alreadyin use.

l Vithin the reel casing below housing 10 is provided a pair of bearings12 and 13 in which my improved motor bracket 14 is journaled. Thebracket 14 may be journaled in any desirable manner in the bearings 12and 13. I have indicated a pivot shaft 1.5 on the bracket 14 which isjournaled in bearing 12. Clamped on shaft 15 is a sleeve 17 which is ofa length equal to the distance between the bearings 12 and 13 so thatthe bearings 12 and 13 hold the sleeve 17 against endwise movement. Thesleeve 17 has an opening 18 in one side which communicates with a hollowportion 16 of shaft 15. A motor cable 15 extends through the hollowshaft 15 and out through opening 18 into casing 11 and from thence to asuitable source of supply. The sleeve 17 may be attached to the shaft 15in any desirable manner. I have inclicated cars 19 having a screw 20extending through them for clamping the sleeve on the shaft 15.. As aconvenient means for assembling the sleeve 17 I have indicated a pivotpini2l at one end thereof formed separately and secured thereto by screw22. It will be apparent, however, that the pivot pin 21 may be attachedto the sleeve in any desirable manner.

An arm 23 isprovided on sleeve ,17 and this arm may be integral orformed in any other desirable manner. On the outer end Qfarm 23 Iprovide a roller 24 which engage a slot or groove 25 in a cam 26. Thecam 26 is mounted on ashaft 27 which is suitably journaled in a bearing28 in casing 11. On the outer end of shaft 27 is a lever 29 having ahandle 30] thereon. The cam 26 can be operated by moving lever 29 bymeans of handle 30. tions 31 on an enlargement or dial of the bearing28, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2,-as

a guide in turning handle 30.

On the bracket 14 I mount a suitable motor 32. In the present instancemotor 32 is: indicated as an electric motor, but it will 'be understoodthat any other suitable motive power may be used when so desired. Themotor 32 is provided with the usual motor shaft 33 and on this shaft isfixed a friction gear 34. The gear 34 is preferably wedgeshaped ortapering from its hub to its pe riph'ery, as clearly indicated in Fig.2.

In the housing 10 is an upstanding ear I preferably provide gradua andon the outer end of said sleeve is a frie 10 and mounted in said'ear isa bushing 35. Journaled in the bushing is a sleeve 36,

tion gear 37. This friction gear may be formed in any preferredconstruction. I have indicated the gear as having a facing 38 of fiberor other friction resisting material.

Mounted in the sleeve 36 is a shaft 39, and on the outer end of shaft39is a gear similar in construction to the gear 37 and having a frictionresisting material. 38 corresponding to the friction resisting material38 of gear 37. The shaft 39 is splined to the sleeve 36 in any desirablemanner. The construction I have indicated is a pin 41 extending throughthe shaft with its end engaging slots 42 in the sleeve. Fixed on theshaft 39 is a gear 43 which is one of the gears of a train for drivingthe picture projecting mechanism. T he housing 10 also has a bearing 44against which the hub 45 of gear 43 engages. The hub 45 of gear 43 maybe made separate in the form of a collar or as a part of the gear 43, asdesired. On the sleeve 36 is fixed a collar 46 which engages bushing 35and limits the movement of sleeve 36 and gear 37 away from thehousing10. It is desirable that a slight space is maintained'between thefriction surfaces of gears 37 and 40 so that the pe-' riphery of gear 34may enter between the having been disengaged. This is accomplished byextending the hubs on the friction gears 37 and 40'so that they normallyengage each other, see Fig. 5. Between the end of sleeve 36 and gear 43is a compression spring 47 which tends to movethe gears 37 and 40 towardeach other and hubs 37 and 40 together and leave a slight space betweenhub 45 and bearing 44.

. I have indicated a pin 48 mountedfor longitudinal movement and at oneend I provide a cam 49 operated by a lever 50. Upon movement of thelever 50 toward the left-hand side of Fig. 5 cam 49 and pin 48 wouldmove shaft 39 and gear 40 away from housing 10, thereby freeing thetaper gear 34 from operative engagement between the friction surfaces38. This provides means for rendering the friction driving mechanisminoperative without changing; the lever 29 with relation to dial 28."When an operator has his machine set for av desired speed and it isnecessary to disconnect the motor for a short time he can do so bysimply turning lever 50 to disconnect the; friction gears and then whenready to start again simply throw his lever back to its positionindicated in Fig. 5 to place the device in condition to run at the samespeed it was before. .lVhen cam 49 is operated the tension on spring 47of course will be increased and this extra pressure tends to move gear37 toward gear 34, but in the sleeve 51 is a bearing 53 in which ismounted a shaft 54. I have indicated screws 55 and a slot 56 in thelower portion of bearing 53 to provideadjustmentbetween the hearing 53and sleeve 51 so that the bearing 53 will be held against movement onsleeve 51.

Journaled on the shaft 54 is a gear 57 which meshes with gear 43. Theshaft 54 also carries a pinion 58 which meshes with a main gear 59 ofthe film-feeding mechanism of the device. Also, onshaft 54 may beprovided a pulley 60 which can be connected with a film' take-up device,not shown, when so desired.

The ear 10 and bearings 44' and 52 are attachedto the stationary housing10 and shaft 61 carrying gear 59 is mounted on a frame 62 which ismounted for vertical adjustment on shaft 63, see Figs. 3 and 4. To keepthe shafts 54 and 61 in proper relation during the adjustments of frame62 I provide a link 64 which hasone end engaging shaft 54, seeFig. 5,andits otherend engaging a boss 66 around shaft 61, see Fig. 4. Thismaintains gears 58 and 59 in mesh regardless of the adjustment up anddown of shaft 61.

The motor or the source of power supplying the motor may be renderedincapacitated for a short time and in such a case it is desirable todisconnect the motor driving mechanism so that shaft 61 can be operatedby hand power or otherwise. In order to do this I have provided ahelical slot 67 in .69 for manual operation. This mechanism is providedto move shaft 39 longitudinally to disconnect gear 43 from gear57. Thisleaves shaft 61 free for operation without driving the shaft 39 and themultiplied gearing between shafts 54 and 39.

The parts are so designed that roller 24 engages end 25 of slot 25 tolimit the movement of gear 34 out from between gears 37 and 40. 'Theparts may be so arranged that gear 34 may be entirely withdrawn frombetween gears 37 and 40 or with a small portion of said gear 34 yetbetween gears 37 and40, as desired. It will be desirable, however, toarrange the parts so that when roller 24 engages end 2550f slot 25 thatthe driving connection between gear 3% and the two friction gears 37 and40 will render the motor inoperative. Then upon moving the roller 24around slot 25 toward the. other end of the slot the gear 34 will bemoved into operative engagement with gears. 37 and 40. The farther gear3.4: is moved in between gears 37 and 4.0 the slower will he therelative speed between said gears due to the fact that gears 37 and 40will engage gear 34 nearer the axis oft-he latter.

claim 1. A speed control comprising a motor bracket pivotally mounted;an arm extending laterally from and rigidly attached to said motorbracket; a shaft disposed tangentially to the axis of the motor shaft; acam on said shaft having a spiral cam groove therein engaging the freeend of said arm; and manually operable means for rotating said shaft.

2. A speed control comprising a motor bracket pivotally mounted; an armextending laterally from and rigidly attached to said motor bracket; ashaft disposed tangentially to the axis of the motor shaft; a cam onsaid shaft having a spiral cam groove therein engaging the free end ofsaid arm; a dial disposed around said shaft; and a manually operablehandle fixed on said shaft adjacent to and adapted to cooperate withsaid dial.

3. A speed control comprising a housing having bearings therein; a motorbracket; a pivot shaft rigidly attached tosaid bracket and journaled inone of said bearings; a sleeve journaled in another of said bearings andclamped on said pivot shaft; an arm on said sleeve; and manuallyoperable means for controlling oscillatory movements of said bracket andsleeve.

4:. A speed control comprising a motor bracket having a pivot shaftattached thereto; bearings engaging said pivot shaft; an arm attachedto. said bracket; rotary means operatively engaging said arm and adaptedto swing the bracket on its pivot shaft and speed change gearingassociated with said bracket.

5. A speed control comprising a motor bracket having a pivot shaftattached thereto; bearings engaging said pivot shaft; an arm attached tosaid bracket; a cam engaging the arm and adapted to swing the bracket onits pivot; and speed change gearing associated with the bracket so thatswinging of the bracket changes relations of parts of the speed change.gearing.

6. A speed control comprising a bracket having a pivot shaft attachedthereto, there being an opening through said shaft; a sleeve clamped onsaid pivot shaft with an opening therein registering with the open ingof said shaft; an arm on the sleeve; a

member pivotally mounted and having a spiral cam groove therein engagingsaid arm; and speed change gearing associated with the bracket. 1 i V7., A speed control comprising a sleeve; a shaft journaled in thesleeve; means splining the sleeve on said shaft; driven gears on saidsleeve and shaft; a spring exerting force on said shaft and sleevetending to move the gears toward each other; a dri ing gear extendingbetween said driven gears; and a cam operatively connected with saidshaft for moving the latter longitudinally to spread said driven gearsapart.

8. A speed control comprising two bean ings; a sleeve journaled in oneof said bearings; a shaft journaled in the sleeve and said otherbearing; friction gears on said sleeve and shaft; a pin and slotconnection between the shaft and sleeve; a spring tending to hold-thefriction gears together; a driving gear tapering toward its peripheryextending between said friction gears; and manually operable meansengaging the end of said shaft for moving the latter axially todisconnect the gears.

9. A speed control comprising two spaced bearings; a sleeve iournaled inone of the bearings; a shaft journaled in said sleeve and the otherbearing; a spline locking the sleeve and shaft together; friction gearson the sleeve and shaft; a spring tending to move the gears toward eachother; a pin mounted in the second mentioned bearing and engaging saidshaft; and means for moving said pin against said shaft to separate saidgears.

10. A speed control comprising a sleeve; a shaft journaled in thesleeve; means splining the sleeve on the shaft; friction gears on saidsleeve and shaft: spring exerting force on said shaft and sleeve tendingto hold the gears together; a gear extending between said frictiongears; means asso ciated with the friction gears for moving the latterout of engagement with the gear extending between said friction gears; apin engaging said shaft; and a cam engaging said pin adapted todisengage said friction gears from the gear extending between saidfriction gears.

11. A speed control comprising two bearings; a collar mounted in one ofsaid bearings having a spiral groove therein; a screw in said bearingengaging said spiral groove; a sleeve journaled in said collar; a shaftjournaled in said other bearing and splined in said sleeve; a pinion onsaid shaft; a compression spring around said shaft and bearing againstan end of said sleeve and said pinion; friction gears on said shaft andsleeve; a pin engaging the end of said shaft; manually operable meansengaging said pin for moving the latter axially against the end of saidshaft; a lever fixed to said collar for rotating the latter; and acollar fixed-on said sleeve and engaging the first-mentioned collar.

andsleeve; and hubs on said friction gears holding the pressure of saidspring on said collars from said bearings.

13. A speed control comprising a sleeve; a shaft extending through thesleeve; friction gears on the shaft and sleeve; aspring exerting forceon the shaft and sleeve tending to hold the gears together; a gearextending between said friction gears; a pin engaging one end of saidshaft; and a manually operable cam engaging said pin adapted to movesaid shaft to free said friction gear from the gear extending betweensaid friction gears.

14. A speed control comprising an ear; a bushing mounted in said ear; asleeve in the bushing; a bearing; a shaft mounted in the sleeve andbearing; a pinion on said shaft; a gear meshing with said pinion; andmeans associated with said bushing for moving said pinion longitudinallyof said shaft out of mesh with said gear.

15. A speed control comprising an ear; a bushing mounted in said ear andhaving a spiral groove therein; a sleeve mounted in said bushing; abearing; a shaft mounted in said sleeve and bearing; a pinion on saidshaft; a gear meshing with said pinion; a screw threaded in the earandengagingsaid spiral groove; and a handle on said bushin 16. A speedcontrol comprising an ear; a bushing in said ear and having a spiralgroove therein; a .pin mounted in said ear and extending into saidgroove; a sleeve journaled in the bushing; ashaft journaled in thesleeve; friction gears on said shaft and sleeve; means tending to movethe friction gears toward each other; and a friction gear extendingbetween the first mentioned friction gears.

17. A speed control comprising a housing; a motor bracket having a pivotshaft journaled in the housing; an arm on said pivot shaft in thehousing; a hand operable shaft extending into said housing; a cam on theshaft engaging saidarm; a motor on the bracket having a friction wheelthereon; and

wheel engaging the friction wheel on said motor.

l9. A speed control comprising a motor bracket mounted for pivotalmovement; a motor fixedon said bracket and having a gear thereon; a pairof gears resiliently pressed toward each other engaging opposite sidesof the gear on said motor bracket; an arm on said bracket; and a rotarymember having its axis tangential to the axis of the bracket and. havingthreads thereon engaging said arm for swinging the latter and saidbracket on their axis.

20. A speed control comprising a motor bracket mounted for lateralmovement; a motor fixed on said bracket and having a motor shaft; afriction gear fixed on said motor shaft; two springpressed frictiongears engaging opposite sides of the gear on saidmotor shaft; means formoving said motor laterally; and means for spreading the spring-pressedfriction gears out of engagement with the gear on said motor shaft.

21. A speed control comprising a sleeve; a shaftsplined in said sleeve;friction gears on said shaft and sleeve; a. .spring attached to theshaft and sleeve tending to move the friction gears toward each other;manually operable means connected with the shaft for moving the latteraxially independently of the sleeve; and means for moving the sleeveaxially independently of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this27th day of May A. D. 1920.

'ALVAH o. ROEBUCK.

